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Friday, November 13, 2009
Hamels on trade rumors, offseason
Phillies lefty Cole Hamels says he hasn't turned the TV on since the season ended, not even to watch Survivor. ( Yong Kim / staff Photographer )

Lesson learned today at Pattison Ave.: When you see Cole Hamels talking on TV, put down your coffee, turn up the volume and get the rewind button on the DVR ready.

Because chances are, it's going to warrant a blog post.

The Phillies' lefty was hosting a fundraiser with his wife Heidi at Moshulu in Penn's Landing last night.

Hamels was asked about trade rumors that surfaced during the GM Meetings in Chicago last week and said he's been paying no attention to them.

"I haven’t turned the TV on since the moment we left so I haven’t watched TV I think probably in a month, so I wouldn’t know, wouldn’t have a clue," he said, per Comcast SportsNet. "Ultimately I’m trying to play the best I possibly can and how I know how to, and wherever it is, that’s where I’m gonna focus on fully going out there and helping a team win."

He also talked about his approach this offseason, saying he's been fortunate to stay healthy for the last two seasons, adding that he'll be spending a few days a week at Citizens Bank Park, working out.

"You know, I lived and learned a valuable lesson in what it takes to be even more of a celebrity than an actual athlete so you know it’s just something I’m gonna take in strides and push towards the next level of being the best athlete I possibly can versus being the best celebrity or the most popular celebrity," he said.

Why do we get the feeling we might hear that clip played on sportstalk radio in the next 24 hours?

Ruben Amaro, Jr. told the Inquirer and Daily News last week that Hamels isn't going anywhere.

We asked readers earlier this week whether the Phillies should entertain the idea of trading Hamels, and 60.5 percent of you said no.

We would agree. Pattison Ave. doesn't give up on 25-year-old lefties who have won championships, just because they have one bad year and say some bizzare things.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 10:37 AM  Permalink | 54 comments
54
Comments   
Posted 10:53 AM, 11/13/2009
JBP
Cole is a wonderful young man with the emphasis on young. He has championship caliber talent, he is a good guy who loves Philadelphia. None of us would like to be judged on everything we said at age 25 would we? We are fortunate to have him on our team. Chances are he'll be a strong performer for us for many years to come.
Posted 11:01 AM, 11/13/2009
ExiledinFla
Give him a break everyone, he's young, and as WS MVP last year was thrusted into limelight some guys older than him don't handle very well. This season was in a funk, saw Lee brought in, had a tough time adusting to the idea of no longer being the #1 stud of the staff. He's a hellova talent. Leave him alone, let him work through what he needs to, and if he returns to form he and Lee can get 8 or 9 the 11 wins needed NEXT postseason. Sheil: I don't read anything in that quote that deserves comment on sportstalk radio..(?)
Posted 11:08 AM, 11/13/2009
ACBaughman
Why not entertain? Doesn't necessarily mean trade Cole.
Posted 11:16 AM, 11/13/2009
rustypop58
Many of the folks who crucify Hamels are probably as young or younger than him. Young people say and do dumb things. It's all a part of growing up. Thankfully the GM is mature enough to realize this. Many in the fan base are not. The Phillies would be foolish to give up on Hamels at this point. With all of his accomplishments, his best years are still in front of him.
Posted 11:21 AM, 11/13/2009
DenverPhilsPhan
Remember he's 25!!! He's got some time to mature and work on his third pitch breaking ball. Another lefty was relugated to the minors in 2007 at 28 before returning to the majors and winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2008... and oh yeah, he also won us two WS games this year. Most pitchers Cole's age are working this stuff out in the minors. If Coles can stay focused (think before he talks) and respect the game and his talent he can be a top of the rotation starter for us for a long time! We nned starting pitching most of all... don't trade it away.
Posted 11:23 AM, 11/13/2009
LJL
Anyone who thinks this unusual apparently doesn't remember Steve Carlton. Maybe we were more tolerant then, or simply less stupid. Lefty had his share of media criticism, and his share of down years.
Posted 11:25 AM, 11/13/2009
Pat c
Thats why he has Comcast on Demand. Because he has little time to watch TV. So, he will catch up on all the trade rumors over the Thanksgiving weekend when he has time to sit back and watch TV. So, catch up with him on Thanksgiving weekend for a statement.
Posted 11:26 AM, 11/13/2009
Manor2009
Bizzare is an understatement. Hope Cole starts channeling his inner John Wayne rather than Joan Crawford. Another sub-par year coupled with any more on/off-field histrionics will be the end of his career in Phlly.
Posted 11:28 AM, 11/13/2009
Discostu
Hamels will bounce back next year...He's 25 for crying out loud...way too young to give up on...
Posted 11:29 AM, 11/13/2009
Bobphxville
People are so quick to forget that this guy brought a WS to Philly. He needs to be cut a break. He should be supported in his good times as well as bad.
Posted 11:29 AM, 11/13/2009
Discostu
Isn't he a paid spokesman for Comcast?
Posted 11:29 AM, 11/13/2009
rapZa
"We would agree. Pattison Ave. doesn't give up on 25-year-old lefties who have won championships, just because they have one bad year and say some bizzare things." Sheil... He did not say bizaare things. you pigs in the media started something and kept feeding the ignorant public with it. KArma Sheil... Karma...
Posted 11:34 AM, 11/13/2009
eaglesfan
One BAD year???!! Make it one mediocre year....he was 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA for crying out loud. Granted that's not what you want from a #1 or #2 starter, but if you're getting that from a #5 (or even a #4) you're doing just fine.
Posted 11:37 AM, 11/13/2009
Lemur
Big bounce back year from Cole next season. All the sucess of 2008 went to his head and now he has been humbled and will work hard this off season
Posted 11:58 AM, 11/13/2009
JMick1215
This just confirms what has been said. He had a shortened offseason last year, doing "appearances" and whatnot, did not get a chance to refresh, got a little hurt and didn't have time to recover. All of us said he has to spend more time preparing and getting ready, and thats exactly what he said he's going to do, "and push towards the next level of being the best athlete I possibly can versus being the best celebrity or the most popular celebrity". If this is brought up on the radio, then I hope its in a positive light towards Cole, because its actually one of he few things I think he's said right recently, so hear's hoping that the media points that out, and doesn't try to misconstrue it in anyway as negative....
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About Pattison Ave.
Pattison Ave. is a sports blog written by the Philly.com sports team of Sheil Kapadia, Jonathan Tannenwald, Mike Potter and Matt Mullin.

We all know that Eagles fans bleed green, while the Flyers faithful swear that black and orange courses through their veins. The patriotic hues of the 76ers will always remain a part of Philly's DNA, and there's no denying that the plasma of Philadelphia now runs Phillies red.

But no matter what color tints the blood pumping through the heart of this sports-crazed city, the artery carrying that passion from the faithful fans to their beloved teams has long been Pattison Avenue.

Paved with triumph and (too much) heartache, the road that pierces through the South Philadelphia stadium complex has played many roles for Philadelphia sports fans through the years, at times acting as this city's Broadway, Easy Street, Main Street U.S.A. and Yellow Brick Road.

This blog was created in that same spirit, offering an eclectic resource for news and nuggets about Philadelphia sports and beyond from the philly.com sports staff. Breaking news, analysis, random thoughts, viral videos, odds and ends -- you'll find it all here on Pattison Ave.

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